Brazil-born naturalized player makes history in Malaysian football

Paulo Josue achieved a historic feat as the first naturalized player to net 10 goals for Malaysia’s national team.

KL City FC captain Paulo Josue further cemented his significant impact on the Malaysia national team by reaching a new historic milestone. Following Malaysia’s 5-1 victory over Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 36-year-old midfielder officially became the first naturalized player to score 10 goals for the Malaysian national squad.

According to statistics from HarimauMYstats, the win against Laos not only secured Malaysia full 6 points from two matches and earned 13.3 points on the FIFA ranking, but also saw Paulo Josue enter the history books of Malaysian football. This statistical page posted on platform X stated: “Paulo Josue has become the first naturalized player to score 10 goals for the Malaysia national team. A proud milestone for Malaysian football.”

Josue joined the national team in March 2023, at the age of 34. Despite his late start, the Brazil-born midfielder quickly proved his worth with technical skills, strong game reading, and versatility across multiple positions. Notably, he often scores crucial goals that help Malaysia overcome regional rivals.

Josue’s latest goal was scored at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, contributing to the emphatic win over Laos. With this goal, he surpassed other naturalized scorers who have represented Malaysia such as Romel Morales, Mohamadou Sumareh, and Guilherme de Paula, holding the record as the top scorer among naturalized players for Malaysia.

More than that, Josue is considered one of the most accomplished naturalized players in the history of Malaysian football. His professionalism, passionate playing spirit, and influential presence in the locker room have earned him absolute trust from coach Peter Cklamovski and his teammates.

Looking ahead, Josue is likely to be called up again for the November training camp when Malaysia faces Nepal on November 18. If he plays, he could extend his record further and help Malaysia achieve a fifth consecutive victory in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.